Common brewing practices you’ve never done

[AdeDunn]

I think the main I have never for me is just going to have to be the drinking home brew whilst brewing, or any booze type beverage to be honest. I did drink a coffee whilst brewing earlier today....

Beer makes me feel sleepy sometimes, not a good idea whilst brewing....

 

[Sadfield]

And the Big one I have Never been convinced by the quality of any CML yeast I have tried

I find their “standard” yeasts hit and miss. Their American and Real Ale yeasts I really didn’t like, but the Cali Common and Kolsch yeasts are great. I’ve not used any of their “premium” yeasts yet though.

Interesting. I've never used them, as I've always been suspicious that they're just repacking commercial packs of other manufacturers, in less than ideal conditions. Do you both mean they are variable in quality between strains, or you get variable results between batches?

 

[MickDundee]

Interesting. I've never used them, as I've always been suspicious that they're just repacking commercial packs of other manufacturers, in less than ideal conditions. Do you both mean they are variable in quality between strains, or you get variable results between batches?

Strains. The American pale is very powdery and poor to flocc, the real ale is just meh a very “nothing” yeast.

The Cali common is a wonderful flocculator and really let’s the malt shine. And the kolsch is wonderful over a massive temperature range - crisp and lagers at the bottom end but with a lovely “German” fruitiness at the top end.

I have no idea of the source of their yeasts, but they’ve started selling WHC liquid yeasts and the page of their premium dried yeasts also shows the WHC logo.

 

[Stu123]

Never had a bottle blow up...... till last month!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Interestingly they launched four and five which could mean they’ll drop real ale and us pale.

 

[strange-steve]

Strains. The American pale is very powdery and poor to flocc, the real ale is just meh a very “nothing” yeast.

The Cali common is a wonderful flocculator and really let’s the malt shine. And the kolsch is wonderful over a massive temperature range - crisp and lagers at the bottom end but with a lovely “German” fruitiness at the top end.

I have no idea of the source of their yeasts, but they’ve started selling WHC liquid yeasts and the page of their premium dried yeasts also shows the WHC logo.

I found an odd flavour in the American yeast, and you're right about the real ale, pretty bland. I didn't really enjoy the kolsch yeast either tbh, but I've used the beoir a couple of times and it's been pretty good.

 

[AdeDunn]

I found an odd flavour in the American yeast, and you're right about the real ale, pretty bland. I didn't really enjoy the kolsch yeast either tbh, but I've used the beoir a couple of times and it's been pretty good.

Yeah, I found their US yeast had a sort of sour taste to it, sherbertish even. The real ale, well it didn't want to leave the beer. Their Saison yeast was ok, but under attenuated. Their Kristallwassit was delicious though, my wife couldn't stand the beer though as was a banana bomb... lol Oh I tried their Cider and mead yeasts too. Cider, uhm if you like super dry tart cider. Mead, was ok, nothing amazing though. Better dried yeasts out there to be honest, just wasn't worth cheaping out with them. Binned a ton of them the other day out of the fridge as I had bought multi packs when I tried them.... All well past the dates.

Just used US-05 for the first time ever, that has to be something right after all this time? lol I'll be trying SO4 next at this rate...

 

[MickDundee]

Just used US-05 for the first time ever, that has to be something right after all this time? lol

BRY-97 is my favourite of that type of yeast. It’s clean like US-05 but flocculates more like M44. In fact I’m finding myself moving away from MJ (which used to be my yeast manufacturer of choice) and into the Lallemand yeasts.

 

[Brewnaldo]

I have had some success bottling with Lallemand CBC 1 fwiw

 

[Covrich]

Interesting. I've never used them, as I've always been suspicious that they're just repacking commercial packs of other manufacturers, in less than ideal conditions. Do you both mean they are variable in quality between strains, or you get variable results between batches?

For me I found a consistent odd flavour from a few of the strains I have tried just as @strange-steve says.. Maybe it is a palette thing? But for me every brew I made with them contain a profile which I am not overly keen on and is less clean. The Kolsh one I tried twice, one was decent the other .. hmm. I dunno I just find them a bit cheap and not great so I am not inclined to try any more.

Personally for the sake of a few pence I would rather go for a us05 B97 or a MJ if using dry over CML

 

[Clint]

Never Been to Spain..
One of my favourite Elvis tracks...

 

[Hanglow]

I've tried a few of the original CML yeasts and liked the kolsch one, was ambivalent about the US pale one though. I had assumed that they were getting them repacked by a company in proper conditions, but someone pointed out either here or on HBT that their ebay shop had bought a load of the empty packets they use for the yeast on ebay. So it gave of the idea of a man in his shed repackaging those 500g packs of dry yeast. I've since gone back to buying fermentis/lallemand

 

[Sadfield]

Personally for the sake of a few pence I would rather go for a us05 B97 or a MJ if using dry over CML

My thoughts, I know what I like, and like what I know.

@Hanglow That may have been me digging for info.

If I'm pitching something at the end of a 5 hr brew day using quality ingredients, I want to be able to trust it.

 

[PhilBrew]

Never Been to Spain..
One of my favourite Elvis tracks...

... I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me

Cheers, PhilB

 

[pms67]

Their PIA Kiwi Pale Ale yeast is the best dry yeast I have used from anywhere

 

[Brewnaldo]

I am very happy with the Hell yeast and plan to use it again, and probably will become my go to lager yeast, although once it gets colder I will try others for comparison.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Never had a poor yeast from CML just bought their Trent.

 

[Brew_DD2]

BRY-97 is my favourite of that type of yeast. It’s clean like US-05 but flocculates more like M44. In fact I’m finding myself moving away from MJ (which used to be my yeast manufacturer of choice) and into the Lallemand yeasts.

Agree with this word for word. BRY-97 knocks the socks off the other two and is the most like WLP001 for me.

 

[robster62]

Never:treated water, used kveik, legged a beer, fermented under pressure or cold crashed

 

[Nicks90]

You just can't beat us05 for anything pale or American and notty yeast for anything bitter or dark.
Yes there are better for specific flavour profiles, but for reliable clean yeasts they do the job wonderfully